MiG-21 crashes in Rajasthan, pilot ejects safely

A MiG-21 aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed on Friday in Rajasthan's Barmer district, with the pilot ejecting safely.

The plane crashed near Sodiyar village at 9 am and the pilot ejected safely, Defence Spokesperson S D Goswami told PTI. He said the aircraft took off from the Uttarlai Airbase in the western sector and was on a routine sortie. It crashed 40 km off Barmer, he said.

A rescue mission was immediately launched from Jodhpur airbase, he said.

A court of inquiry has been ordered by the air force to ascertain the cause of the crash.